Adderall and Alcohol

Adderall and alcohol are two of the most commonly used drugs among college and high school students. The substances are generally cheap and easily accessible. Alcohol is widely available at bars and stores, and Adderall is one of the most prescribed medications among young people for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Those without an Adderall prescription can easily obtain the drug. People who have a legitimate prescription may sell the medication to others or give it away. Students often use Adderall to pull all-nighters while cramming for tests. They also use it to party for longer periods of time.

Adderall is a stimulant drug that increases heart rate and blood pressure, and alcohol is a depressant that can slow heart rate and breathing. But when taken together, they do not negate the effects of each other. Adderall lessens the depressive effects of alcohol. Alcohol can increase the euphoria caused by recreational Adderall use.

People often mix alcohol with ADHD medications so they can drink more over longer periods of time. The stimulant effects of Adderall keep people alert and prevent them from passing out, making them less likely to notice the signs of dangerous alcohol consumption. This increases their risk of alcohol poisoning.

The risks of mixing alcohol and Adderall also include serious health consequences, such as alcohol poisoning, cardiovascular problems, hallucinations and seizures. In rare cases, it can result in death.

Side Effects of Combined Adderall and Alcohol Use

According to researchers with St. Joseph’s Medical Center, concurrent alcohol and Adderall use has been linked to heart attack, arrhythmia and hypertension — even among individuals who had no prior risk factors for cardiovascular issues.

These side effects can lead to more serious health problems and permanent damage to the body. In some cases, mixing the substances can cause a heart attack or a fatal alcohol overdose.

Risky Behaviors and Lowered Inhibitions

In addition to the detrimental health effects of combining alcohol and Adderall, this pattern of misuse also can lower inhibitions. As a result, individuals are more likely to engage in dangerous decision-making that may cause serious harm to themselves and others.

Lowered inhibitions are a common side effect of alcohol consumption. But as Adderall use drives higher levels of intoxication from drinking, inhibitions may be lowered to a much greater extent.

In combination, Adderall and alcohol use compounds the risks of dangerous behaviors that people would normally avoid when they are sober.

While alcohol and Adderall use is not the only factor that contributes to these dangerous behaviors, combining the two substances may change an individual’s mindset. The resulting loss of control can prevent people from considering the risks of engaging in behaviors with potentially life-changing repercussions.

Increased Risk of Addiction

Adderall and alcohol are both addictive, and mixing the two substances may further increase a person’s risk for developing a substance use disorder.

Taking Adderall before or during drinking to party longer promotes binge drinking, which the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines as a pattern of drinking that elevates a person’s blood alcohol content to 0.08 grams per deciliter. Women typically reach this level of intoxication when they drink four standard beverages in two hours, and men may reach it after drinking five beverages in the same period.

Combining alcohol and Adderall allows people to easily surpass their normal rate of alcohol consumption.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, men who drink more than 14 alcoholic beverages per week and women who drink more than seven per week are considered at-risk drinkers. The institute reports that about 25 percent of at-risk drinkers have an alcohol addiction, and the remaining 75 percent face a greater risk of developing alcoholism and related problems.

It is not uncommon for people who combine Adderall and alcohol to exceed weekly at-risk drinking limits in one drinking session. Repeating this behavior increases the likelihood of developing a physical dependence to both Adderall and alcohol.